Brooklyn Kalmikov’s hometown is Terrebonne, Que., but he has both salt water and hockey running through his veins.

The 16-year-old winger was born in St. John’s, N.L. His father, Ukrainian forward Konstantin Kalmikov, was a third-round draft pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1996 and played for the club’s former American Hockey League affiliate, the St. John’s Maple Leafs. At the age of five, Brooklyn moved to Quebec, where his mother, Isabelle, is from originally.

“We’re pretty much a hockey family, we live for that,” said Brooklyn. “We have it in our blood. It’s our passion. I love the sport, so I’ll do my best to get to higher levels.”

His father had a long career in pro hockey, starting with the Maple Leafs farm club. He also skated in the former International Hockey League, the ECHL, and in various pro leagues overseas, hanging up his skates following the 2011-12 season.

“After the games, he texts me and says what I can do better to help me with my game and what I did good, too,” said Brooklyn. “He helps me a lot.”

Kalmikov is looking to forge his own path forward in his hockey career. He was selected in the first round, No. 15 overall, by the Screaming Eagles in the 2017 draft and from there set out to get stronger in order to crack Cape Breton’s roster in his first training camp. He not only made the team, but was one of only three 16-year-olds to make the cut. He joins fellow 2017 first-rounder Noah Laaouan and second-rounder Ryan Francis.

“I just want to work hard every game, every shift and help the team win, do my best and do what I can do,” said Kalmikov, who has three assists in his first 10 games in the QMJHL.

The Screaming Eagles have back-to-back home games starting tonight when they host the Chicoutimi Saguenéens. Thursday, they’ll face the Shawinigan Cataractes. Puck drop for both is 7 p.m. at Centre 200.

Cape Breton recently split a home-and-home series with the Halifax Mooseheads, and hopes to rebound from a 9-5 setback on Saturday to their provincial rivals.

“We had a hard game the last one,” said Kalmikov, who enjoyed his first experience with the Battle of Nova Scotia. “We just want to bounce back from the last game and get a win (tonight).”

After their mid-week homestand, the Screaming Eagles hit the road to play the Saint John Sea Dogs on Sunday at Harbour Station.